We are excited to welcome a new Program Manager and Director of the OCA, following Judy Davis’ retirement. Welcome to Heather Strachan, who will be starting on July 1st! Heather Strachan is a native of Humboldt, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University, majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. Heather’s professional background includes campaign organization as more »
Read MoreNAMI Iowa’s 2nd annual Beautiful Minds was another roaring success with attendees enjoying a night of entertainment and learning about mental health. As a review, Beautiful Minds showcases famous artists, actors and thinkers who lived with a mental illness. Beginning with a reception at Des Moines University, guests were able to interact with all actors more »
Read MoreWith record-breaking temperatures dropping to below 30 with snow on the ground, much of central and northern Iowa has become a dismal place to spend the month of April—especially for people with seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a recurring type of depression where a person experiences the same symptoms as major depressive more »
Read MoreAs state lawmakers have been busy passing landmark mental health reform legislation, a growing number of college students around Iowa have also been hard at work advocating for mental health on their campuses. Mental illness roughly one out of four teens and college-aged young adults, so it should come as no surprise that young people more »
Read MoreIt’s impossible to talk about changes to the mental health system without discussing the role of law enforcement. NAMI Iowa has previously written about how a shortage of adequate mental health resources and facilities affects not only people in need of treatment, but also local police departments who are often called to intervene instead. When more »
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